AUBURN, Alabama – Auburn didn't get the win, but its
defense held LSU to 10 points Saturday, and that, says defensive back Demetruce
McNeal, should send a signal that the Tigers can play tough in the defense of new coordinator Brian VanGorder.

"That's the message we wanted to send out to the SEC. We just tried to show those guys that 'you
think we're soft?' OK, we're going to show you," McNeal says in this
video. "Last year, we weren't coached very well. We weren't as smart as
players as we are this year with a change on defense. We just wanted to show
everybody what we're made of."

LSU beat Auburn 12-10, but the Tigers came away
encouraged after a string of iffy defensive performances in SEC games that dated
back to last year. Auburn will try to keep their renewed energy going through
this week's off week.

The difference this season, McNeal says, is
"guys are smarter, guys knowing what they're supposed to do, and guys
really detailing their work. A lot of guys are doing their job, not doing
somebody else's job. If you've got this gap, attack that gap. If you've got to
fit the tight end, attack the tight end. Just executing, that's basically what
it was.

"Last year, we put on kind of a clown show, a lot of
guys not doing their work and not doing their job. This year we just detailed
our work. Guys have really focused on that. They did it and you see the
outcome."

On LSU: "If that's the No. 2 team in the country, then what are we then, no matter what our record is."